Altitude Schmaltitude

Hey everyone sorry for being late again. I knew that this weekend my group was going to the Teleferico in Ecuador so I figured I’d wait and hopefully have some cool pictures---

A lot of what I read about Quito before arriving constantly mentioned the altitude. At 2850 m or roughly 8550 feet above sea level, Quito is quite the jump, a high one, from Chicago’s altitude at about 586 feet above sea level.

(The sign said don´t run. I had trouble walking that high up.)

Many of the books and articles mention the negatives of this change in elevation, specifically the prospect of altitude sickness, usually a mild headache. What the books fail to mention is that Ecuador’s constantly changing altitude results in some of the most spectacular views in South America.

(Looking east towards Quito and Cumbaya)

Today going to the Teleferico, a ski resort like contraption that shuttles people up to the top of Pichincha Mountain, I probably changed 6000 ft in elevation in about two hours, which, I think, is pretty amazing. From the top of Pichinca Mountain I was able to see not only Quito and Cumbaya, but also see for hundreds and hundreds and miles into the distance. As much as I love these breathtaking views, they also make me feel incredibly insignificant. Being able to see for hundreds of miles, with cites in front, even taller mountains in back, and literally being surrounded by clouds, is an unbelievably fantastic experience that really reminds me of my tiny place in this huge world.

(The Teleferico)

(Standing at the same level of the clouds is great)

So while I have a killer headache after returning from the Teleferico, I’ll take some altitude sickness and standing on top of a mountain over a pain free head and the plains of the Midwest any day.

Quito

This past week was Carnival, resulting in only two days of school. While most of the Illinois group went to various beaches throughout Ecuador I got to stay in Quito because of some confusion about a photo project. While I was initially a little upset that I didn’t get to travel to somewhere else in Ecuador there sure are worse ways to spend a week than walking around one of Latin America’s most beautiful cities.

Having explored much of Chicago over the years it was really interesting to walk around some of the more residential neighborhoods of Quito and compare the two cities. A few tidbits I noticed about Quito:
-There are a lot of dead end streets.

-Every house is gated in. The level of security varies from broken glass on top of the gate to a 24- hour security guard.

- The pollution is horrible. Every large city has pollution issues, but the high number of 2 cycle engines and unmaintained buses make Quito quite the health hazard during rush hour.

- Public transportation is popular (for 25 cents a ride why wouldn’t it be?)

- The mix of the upper class and very lower class is much more out in the open than in Chicago. While downtown Chicago can be quite the mix of the two, in general neighborhoods are somewhat separated by wealth in Chicago. Not so in Quito. The very very rich live directly next to the very very poor. It was interesting to see the contrast of a six year old in tattered clothes selling gum next to a business man in a tailored suit.
-Centro Historico, the colonial district of Quito, is one of the most beautiful and architecturally distinct neighborhoods I’ve ever seen. The brick paved streets, the constant smell of incense, and the overwhelming amount of fantastic 19th century ornate buildings really make it feel like you’re in a movie. Oh yeah, its also filled to the brim with people selling homemade donuts. I ate a lot of donuts this past week.

(A Carnival street comedian)

(A residential area close to Centro Historico)

After my week of exploring it’s fair to say that I really love Quito—and no not just because of the donuts. It’s a fantastic city with a lot of offer, I can’t wait to walk around and explore more of it.

(La Parque Almeda)

Mindo Lindo

Sorry for being a day late. Last weekend was another fantastic group excursion to Mindo in the Pichincha provence of Ecuador. Mindo is about two hours away from Quito and as is known as a cloud forest because everyday the town gets filled with fog around 3 pm. As a Star Wars fan the second I heard cloud forest I thought of Cloud City, but alas, Lando was nowhere to be found in Mindo. I guess I’ll just have to wait a few more months for the comic-con for my yearly Lando Callrissian encounter. Mindo is also quite the tourist trap. The town is filled to the brim with hostels and gringos. But despite this heavy tourist influence Mindo still manages to be a very beautiful town.




The weekend was packed to the brim with great little outings, a majority of them that would not be allowed in the US due to safety concerns. After the two-hour drive on Saturday we settled into our hostel, which an unbelievable hummingbird garden, and went river tubing. Tubing in Ecuador consists of sitting on top of eight tied together inner tubes while hurtling down a raging river. You have the help of two unbelievably strong men essentially running through the rapids along side the tubes while pushing off rocks and navigating the currents to get everyone as wet as possible. Later Saturday the power went out, leaving Mindo covered in the warm glow of hundreds of candles. Playing dominoes on the deck with the candle’s fireplace like glow illuminating the room while hearing the zoom of the hummingbirds a few feet away was a blast.

(the hammocks were fantastic)

( there were always at least 20 hummingbirds flying around)

Sunday morning was filled with zip-lining. Flying over 200 tall foot trees upside down was fantastic. We also stopped at a national park with a few beautiful waterfalls and a great hike. While all these adventures were fun, the most fun I had all weekend was riding back to Mindo from the national park on top of a bus. Rarely have I experienced such a sensory overload. The lukewarm wind, the smell of burning leaves, the low rumble of the bus, were all aided by having to dodge jagged branches that were sticking out from the side of the mountain.


After all the hikes and all the thrilling adventures in Mindo, settling home to watch the last quarter of the Super Bowl palled in comparison. I can’t wait to travel to some of the other towns famous for their outdoor sports. Ecuador truly is the country of outdoor adventures and, as I discovered in Mindo, sore calves.

Organic Garden

A big part of the U of I program in Ecuador is volunteering. Maria, our program director, mentioned various options for volunteering and the one I ended up choosing was working at an organic garden in the rural community Lumbisí. Part of the reason I chose the garden was because I wanted to do something I was slightly proficient at, and thanks to Annette Held Landscape Design I am very proficient at what we do in the garden -- digging large holes.
Every Friday morning Andrew, a fellow gringo in the program, and I go to Lumbisí. Lumbisí is a fantastic town about a twenty- minute bus ride away from Cumbaya . A relaxed air fills Lumbisi. Children are always playing in the streets and the occasional herd of sheep is one of the many interesting rural sights.

The garden itself provides vegetables to a lunch hall for the elderly and a local school. The garden isn’t gigantic, but has provided plenty of work so far.

(The garden goes back to the second greenhouse)

(Andrew, off to do something productive)

Today at the garden during one of our frequent water breaks, a horse trotted by the entrance. Livestock pass by on a fairly regular basis, but this was the first time I’d seen a horse. The modest sized horse passed by leisurely, stopping to chew a few patches of grass along the way. I stood in awe of this beautiful sight, not noticing the broken rope around the horses’ neck, and like any good city boy, took some pictures. As soon as the horse had turned the corner I was greeted by a swarm of 12 year old boys, sprinting madly in pursuit of the horse. Andrew and I pointed in the direction the horse had gone as the boys continued their chase. Whoops. Luckily, despite my awe of seeing a horse and lack of help, two calm older women returned the horse.

(This is when I took a photo...and didn´t try to get the horse)


It’s really nice to get out of the somewhat Americanized Cumbaya and go to an area that is completely different than anything I have ever experienced. When I walk through the back roads of Lumbisí and only hear the sound of the wind blowing through the fields of corn while a giant lush mountain towers over me at every second, I feel truly amazed by the beauty and diversity of Ecuador.